Locking device for couplings



Jam.` l2, 1932. H. A. EARNEs-r LOGKING DEVICE FOR COUPLIKRGS Filed- July' 22, 1930 j 'Patentel Jan. 12, 1932 HARRY A. nennnsnofmoasrnn.

, Y nockrive nEvcEroncoI-:rnms

'Application med July/22,1930. serial No. casca 'l .15 of revolution or like operations.v In the hiring of'automobile vehicles or ythe o eration of machine tools sucha register is o importance in *determining travel vor work done and any tampering or Vdisconnection-f of. the

n coupling seriously affects the reliability of` the register. By my device vit ispossible` to conceal and protect a coupling againstdis# connection or injury` and thus insure the accurate registrationofthe` machine.

The preferred embodiment of my.y improvement is illustrated inthe accompany` drawings in which: Y l.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a speedometer including my improved locking device; y Fig. l2is a sideelevation partlyin section on theline 2;'2 of'Fig. 1; v; Y, Fig. 3 is a perspective'view.l partly in elevation;

Fig. 4^is a longitudinal section on thelline 4, 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a similar longitudinal section :on an enlarged scale, and Fig. 6 is a perspectiv ing sleeve.

i ofthe fastenconventional form jand includesthe' backnS from which extends aftubular litting 9.

This fitting is screw threaded for connectionv with the armored tubing of the speedometer drive.

ometer drive isof the usual type which has a limitedflexibility; and is protected against` wear or breaking. Eachend of the tubing 10 has a collar which forms part of a union or '50 tting between the tubing andthe machine The armored tubing 10-of the speedparts. by which the Vflatter.A is 'held'. Each collar carriesjaiknurled lnut which mayfbe readily rotated with-respect to the collarand y tubing, Vdrawing the' collar into tightengagement with-thescrew threaded ttingpf The sa,

linurled-nut12 isusedY to attach the tubing hrmly to the screw-threaded fitting 9 ofthe speedometer casingfwhile the knurled ynut 12 at the opposite'endfof the tubing :brings the collar .Y into tight engagement. with the screw co threaded fitting 13. Fitting. 1315 formsl the connection,y ofthe tubing lto'thehousing 14 ofthe machine parts. Usually in:present day practicethis housing 514 ispart ofthe transmission case of/anautomobile ortho-like. ce By this means the'fleXible shaft contained within the'armore'dtubinglO'is held in! driv ing connection between: the .speedometen and. whatever'rotating part :isfbeing used toindif cate speed or number ofirevolutionsffThis 7u connectionis of course the yoneusually found in practice. v ....K. A ,In order to rinsurefthe permanence of the.

connectionabove described Ihaveprovided 'a locking device whichisreadily'assembledr 75 with the/above parts.-y Spaced from-.each end'kof the 'armored tubingl attach avstop l5 :which is inthe yform of l"a ring or Ycollar brazed or 'otherwise' fastened'to they tubing. Y

yA `fastening sleevelis formed of tubular material. one end of whichl istaperedy at 1T to have a slidingt closely around'thetubing.` The sleeve l6is of such aninternaldiameter as will slidef readily over." stop.;15 and ythe 'knurlednut 12. .f Thetapered end 17 hasy an S5 abutting face-.1 18 which strikes f they collar 15 'and limits movement of the -sleeve* overithe end of the coupling.A

Y v j i,Theopposite'end-of:sleeverlGslottedzas A speedometer casing 7isvillustrated `of at 19Y longitudinally-for aconsiderabledistance along the sleeverfinorde'rto Obtain the ofthe sleeve also carries aninterrupted internal flange 20 which forms an abutmentfittinggi closelyaroundsthe ittingfli` andiagain'st the v end oftheknurled nut-12y when the sleeveis pulled; away Vfrom the housing 14 or the fitting; 9 as rthe'case'mayf be. z i' f .1'

"nfSpring-fingers'QlareJQut vsides' `of 1790,; u

I fr "1,841,319-

- of the sleeve.

The locking collar22 is provided of slight- 'ly less llength than the sleeve. 16 and of slightly greater diameter. Thecollar is, reversible in that each end carries aninternal flange 23 which reduces the internal diameter at the ends to slightly more than that of the outer diameter of the sleeve. In position these internal flanges 23, 28 rest upon Ythe sleeve 16 and the flange over the knurle'd'nut 12 forms an abutment forstherspring gers 21.

- The mode Vof loperation ofthe above devicewill be readily apparent from the drawings; The device is assembled on the flexible tubing by sliding the lock collar over one end of thetubing'.. The fastening sleeve `1G 'is-then drawn over the knurled nut 12.-; In

order to accomplish this thetapered end 17 may beproportioned with an internal diameter greater than thejdiameter of the nut 12 and subsequently swaged or otherwise reduced in diameter. The stop 15 is then applied:l to thextubingat the desire-d distance from the end. With the sleevedrawn back from the end, the knurled nut'12 may then be fastened to the fitting 901'. 13. The sleeve is then sprung over the knurled nut 12 against the vend of which the .flange 20 abutsf The locking collar 22 is caused to slide over the sleeve A16 until one flange 23 passes beyond the spring fingers 21.

The result is that thev locking collar 22 prevents any further expansion of the slotted end'of the sleeve 16. ATherefore the flanges 20 are heldin abutting relation to the knurled nut, concealing the latter and preventing any unauthorized disconnection 'of the tubing at thispoint.

It will be observed that in the above manner Iv have'provided for the permanent locking of a connected coupling wherever it may be desired to accomplish this result. While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of my invention stillv the same is subjectv t'o variation in design and structural details without departing from the scope of the `invention as set out in the following claims., v

What I claini is:

- 1'. In combination, a. tubing havingvan end collar, a connecting nut on the collar, a fastening sleeve slidable over said nut, an internal flange atV the end of the sleeve, a locking collar sl'idable over` the end of the sleeve and means preventing retraction of the locking collar.'

tening sleeve slidable over said nut, an internal flange at the end of the sleeve beyond the nut, a locking collar slidable over the end.v

Vsleeve for limiting the retraction of the sleeve and resilient means preventing retraction of the locking collar.

3. In combination, a tubing having an end collar, a connecting nut on the collar, a. fastening sleeve, an internal flange at the end of the sleeve, said sleeve being capable of eXpansion to receive Ythe nut interiorly of said flange, alocking'collarslidable over the sleeve and means preventing retraction of the locking sleeve. g y

4. "Incombination-,a tubing` having an end collar, a connecting nut on the collar, a fastening sleeve having a longitudinally slotted Aend, an internal flange within said end and abutting said nut, outwardly extending spring fingers on said sleeve, a locking *collar slidable overthesleeve and means on said locking collar toengage saidgspring fingers.

5'. In combinatiolna tubing having an end collar, a connecting nut on the collar, a fastening sleeve slidable over said nut, a stop on the tubing to limit the movement of the sleeve, means on Vthe sleeve engaging the nut to prevent retraction of the sleeve, and means carried by the sleeve toV prevent separation ofthe nut and sleeve.

Y 6. In combination, a tubing having an end collar, a connecting nut on the collar, a sleeve having an expansible end with an internal lia-nge. engaging the end ofthe nut', a collar slidable over the sleeve, an internalflange on the collar for preventing expansionof the end of the sleeve' and means. for .preventing the retraction ofthe collar. l Y

. 7. In combination, a tubing-having an'end collar-,a connecting nut on the collar, a sleeve having an expansible end with an internal projection engaging the. end of the.v nut, a collar slidable over the sleeve, an internal flange on the collar for preventing expansion of the end of thesleeve and means on the of the flange. Y v

v8. Incombination, a tubing havingy a coul pling fitting atone endga sleeve loosely carried on the tubing, means forlimitingthe movement of the sleeve toward said end of the tubing, said sleeve being deformable at one end, means interior'ly: of said deformable end torest against the coupling fitting and prevent `retraction ofthe sleeve, a locking collar loosely slidable over the sleeve, an internal flange at each'end of thesleeve. and fit-` t1ng closely around said sleeve andnmeans on Vthe sleeve for locking against vone of said insignature.

f HARRY A. EARNEST. 

